Answers to questions on the Introduction to biochemistry

Answers to Introduction to biochemistry questions.

(ii) From (+IV) in carbon dioxide to (0) in glucose.
(iii) The role of chlorophyll is to absorb light energy and transfer it to plants by storing the
energy in the bonds of the organic products of photosynthesis.

(b) (i) The primary function of respiration is to transfer energy to cells in animals.
(ii) The two processes exist in equilibrium as the carbon dioxide absorbed from the atmosphere during photosynthesis is released back into the atmosphere during respiration, similarly the oxygen released into the atmosphere during photosynthesis is removed from the atmosphere during respiration

2. (a) 2-amino acids contain two reactive functional groups, an amino group and a carboxyl group. Either the amino group of first 2-amino acid can condense with the carboxyl group of the second 2-amino acid or the carboxyl group of the first one can condense with the amino group of the second one. Some amino acids contain two amino groups or two carboxyl groups. If one of these reacts (e.g. lysine or aspartic acid) with another 2-amino acid then more condensation products are possible.

(b) Tyrosine (Tyr), serine (Ser) and leucine (Leu).

(c)

3. Condensation reactions are examples of anabolism as they use energy to synthesise larger organic molecules from smaller organic molecules with the evolution of a small molecule such as water. Hydrolysis reactions are example of catabolism as larger organic molecules are broken down by water to form smaller molecules and produce energy.

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